Minnesota concerts and music festivals in spring/summer 2013

Twin Cities arenas will be filled with stars new and old in the coming months, with retro package tours aimed at fans of pop (New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, 98 Degrees) and hip-hop (LL Cool J, Ice Cube, Public Enemy, De La Soul). We'll see old war horses like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Fleetwood Mac and, for the first time in more than a dozen years, Depeche Mode. We also have some of today's biggest acts, too, from Beyonce and One Direction to the Lumineers and Bruno Mars.

Here's a look at spring/summer pop music:

Kings of the Mic

Atmosphere (Photo by Dan Monick)

May 30: This retro-rap package tour bundles four of the biggest acts to emerge from hip-hop in the '80s. And truly, there's a little something for all tastes on the bill, from LL Cool J's still-potent pop jams and the politically charged Public Enemy to aging gangster Ice Cube and fun-loving hippies De La Soul. The tour coincides with LL Cool J's 30th year in the business and his 14th album, "Authentic." 7:30 p.m.; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $75-$49.50; 888-929-7849.

May 31: They had only one hit, but it was a big one. Denver-based folk rockers the Lumineers released their debut single, "Ho Hey," in late 2011, and by last summer, both 89.3 The Current and Cities 97 were playing it, with the latter inviting the band to perform at the annual Basilica Block Party. The song landed on a Bing commercial and numerous TV shows and eventually peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard charts. California indie-rockers Cold War Kids and Tennessee's J Roddy Walston and the Business open. 7:30 p.m.; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $45-$30; 888-929-7849.

See also: New York indie-rock act the National has done things the old-fashioned way, putting in years playing local clubs to increasingly large crowds. The band headlines its largest Twin Cities show. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6; Roy Wilkins Auditorium, West Fifth Street between Washington and West Seventh streets, St. Paul; $35; 800-745-3000.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

June 29: Tom Petty is one of the most successful, enduring and well-liked rockers from the late '70s. More than a dozen of his songs remain radio staples, including "American Girl," "Don't Do Me Like That," "Refugee," "The Waiting," "I Won't Back Down," "Free Fallin'," "Into the Great Wide Open" and "Mary Jane's Last Dance." New Jersey rockers the Smithereens open. 7:30 p.m.; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $99.50-$25; 888-929-7849.

See also: Fleetwood Mac also emerged in the '70s, and four-fifths of the band's "Rumours"-era lineup are back on the road. There's no new album, but the band may test fresh material amid the old hits. 8 p.m. April 28; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $149.50-$49.50; 800-745-3000.

Kenny Chesney and the Zac Brown Band

July 12: Last summer, country superstar Kenny Chesney was the first musical act to headline Target Field. Chesney, whose current hit "Pirate Flag" is the first single from his new album, "Life on a Rock," had such a good time he's doing it again. He'll be joined by the wildly entertaining Zac Brown Band, which has sold out nearby Target Center twice. 5 p.m.; Target Field, 1 Twins Way, Mpls.; $702-$32.50; 612-338-9467.

See also: Last year, country hunk Tim McGraw warmed the stage for Chesney's stadium show. This summer, he'll play the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand for the third time. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2; Minnesota State Fair, 1265 N. Snelling Ave., Falcon Heights; $71-$56; 800-514-3849.

Beyonce

July 18: The superstar opened 2013 by conquering the Super Bowl. Since then, she directed and produced the flashy documentary "Life Is But a Dream" for HBO and won her 17th Grammy Award. She'll also release her fifth solo album this year and lend her voice to the animated film "Epic," due in theaters May 24. This local tour stop will be Beyonce's first since selling out Target Center in July 2009. 8 p.m.; Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $252-$47; 800-745-3000.

July 18: It has been a long time coming for this British-Irish boy band. Tickets went on sale 15 months ago, which might as well be 15 years for the group's tween fans. One Direction has sold more than 3 million albums and scored six big hit singles, "What Makes You Beautiful" being the one even jaded adults have heard by now. Parents probably will want to pack earplugs -- not to block out the music, but the screaming. 7:30 p.m.; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $89.50-$29.50; 800-745-3000.

July 20: Since reuniting in 2008, '80s stars New Kids on the Block have earned big bucks marketing directly to their old fans, who have much deeper pockets than they did as teens. This triple-act tour marks the latter-day NKOTB's third time through town. To up the nostalgia factor, they'll be joined by Boyz II Men and 98 Degrees. 7:30 p.m.; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $91.50-$29.50; 888-929-7849.

See also: Older siblings of NKOTB fans will be more interested in the Midwest Rock and Roll Express. It features REO Speedwagon, Styx and Ted Nugent. 7 p.m. April 19; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $91.50-$29.50; 888-929-7849.

Depeche Mode

Aug. 27: Synth-pop legend Depeche Mode hasn't played the Twin Cities since 2001, so expect to see plenty of long-suffering fans ready and waiting for a black celebration. And what better place to host than the Great Minnesota Get-Together. Depeche Mode just released its 13th album, "Delta Machine," but expect to hear plenty of songs in concert from the group's classic records "Violator" and "Songs of Faith and Devotion." 7:30 p.m.; Minnesota State Fair, 1265 N. Snelling Ave., Falcon Heights; $70-$60; 800-514-3849.

See also: For more synth-pop fun, check out the Postal Service, the duo of Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard and producer Jimmy Tamborello, who've reunited for a tour to mark the 10th anniversary of their album, "Give Up." 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2; Roy Wilkins Auditorium, West Fifth Street between Washington and West Seventh streets, St. Paul; $40-$35; 800-745-3000.